Wringer release mechanism



Patented Aug'. 11, 1942 WalNGEa RELEASE MECnAiNr-SM Nicholas L. Etten, waterloo'. le AApplication May 13, 1937, serial No. 142,4os

2 claims. (Cl. ss-263) This invention relates to safety mechanisms for domestic clothes wringers and more particularly anism in a position when the pressurevhasbeen toquick release devices for releasing the pressure exerted' between thel wringer rolls and permitting view showing the parts in their normal relationship:

Fig. 4 is a view similar to theview of Fig. 3, but on a slightly larger scale and showing the pressure release mechanism and resetting mechreleased or, in other words, when the parts are in' a position for resetting the pressure:

Fig. 5 'is a section of a fragment taken sub- I the rolls to separate. The invention is peculiarly 5 stantially along the line V--V of Fig; 3; l applicable to wringers of the type employing a Fig. 6 is a section of a fragment taken alon releasable top frame and wherein the spring or the line VI-V'Iof Fig. 2; springs for 'exerting pressure on the rolls is or Fig. 'I is a section of a fragment taken along are carried by or held down by such frame. the line VII-VIIof Fig. 2 and A primary object of the invention is to provide 10 Fig. 8 is a fragmentary end elevation of either a relatively simple and inexpensive mechanism end of the wringer top frame member, both ends whereby an operator of the wringer, in the case being substantially alike. of an emergency, may immediately eilect the The wringer comprises spaced side frame memrelease of the spring or springs which normally bers 2 and I joined at their lower ends to the maintain thev rolls in close engagement and under opposite ends of a bottom frame member-4 to relatively high pressure. v. which the usual drip aprons 5 may be secured inv Another important object is to provide a quick any suitable and wcll known manner. .Preferrelease mechanism of such character that the ably, the side frame members 2 and 3 are made top frame and the pressure imposing spring will Vof stamped or pressed sheet metal and are of4 be restrained against undesirable movements be- 2o generally U-shape in cross section. `The side yond those necessary t0 effect the release of presframe members carry lower roll bearing blocks 6 sure upon the rolls. which are suitably supported by pins 1 extending Still another important object is to provide an through the side frame members and which serve arrangement whereby certain of the mechanism rotatably to support the journals 8 of the lower employedto eiect the release of pressure may be'25 wringer rolll. 'I'he upper wringer roll Il likeused to effect the resetting ofthe top frame and wise has journals i2 bearing in bearing blocks I3 the resecuring 0f the spring in pressure exerting which aremounted for vertical sliding movement', relationship With reS'DeCttOthe r0llS yin the side frame members. The lower roll 9 A further object is to providea simple and may be' driven fromv one end in any suitable inexpensive trigger 0r the like device `ofsuch '30 manner well understood in the art, and drives Y character and so arranged lin cooperative con. ltheupper roll Il through its f rictional engagejunctionwith a bar or the like extending trans ment, thergwith l verSely 0f the wringer. that the release mecha- .A removable top frame member IlA formed of nism may be operated to eiect substantially insheet metal andas a single stamping, or otherstantaneous release 0f Pressure either by B11111118 35 wise, carries leaf spring-,Ithe opposite ends of 0n the bar in a direction .away from the wringer which are arranged normally to press downward 0r. by pushing on the -bar in a directiontowald upon the' bearing blocks I3 in order to press the the wringer. f rolls into engagement with one another, the Marly Other ObjeCtS 3S Well 8S theadvantaes reaction of the spring being absorbed through and uses of the invention will be understood and 40 the top frame member andby the side frame appreciated after readingthe f01l0Wl118 descripmembers when the top frame member is secured tion and claims and after viewing the drawings to the side frame members. The tension of the inwhich: --f spring I5 may be adusted by a set screw or the Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a wringer mechavlike (ngc Shown) by which the Spring is secured nism embodyinga preferred form 0I the inven- 45 to the top frame -member I4 -in an ordinary tion; manner. l

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the wringer Shown Preferably and in the interests of economy and in Fig. 1; simplicityof manufacture the top frame member Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a fragment taken l I4 is made in'one piece and substantially symsubstantially along the line III-m 0f F18 2,1116 50 metrical with respect to its longitudinal and transverse axes, as will be observed from Figs. 1,

ce'ived within the end portions of the top frame member in telescoping relation therewith and one end frame member, in this instance frame member 3, is provided with one or more lugs I1. struck outwardly therefrom and arranged to pass through slot I6 and to hook over the lower edges of portions I8 of the slot I6. The lug or lugs I1 are designed to permit the top frame member to hinge or pivot thereon or to be released therefrom, as may be desired or as may happen in the functioning of the release mechanism to be described.

Fastened to the opposite end of the top frame member I4 on a rivet or other pin I9 is a U- shaped strap or hinge member 2| which has portions 22 projecting into and through .the aperture provided by the slot I6 at this end. Each of the projecting portions 22 is recessed, as at 23, to provide a lip portion 24 which abuis against the outer face of the top frame member adjacent to the edges I8 at this end, thereby the better to secure the hinge member 2|, which would otherwise be secured only by the rivet or pin I9.

Hinged on a pivot pin 25 secured in the projecting portion 22 of the hinged member is a reset arm 26 which may be a sheet metal stamping of substantially U-shape in cross section. Normally the reset arm 26 extends downwardly along the side frame member 2 with its lower end in adjacent or abutting relation with the lower end of the side frame member, but when the pressure is released the arm may swing about its pivot 25 to a position such as that illustrated in Figure 4. In order to prevent the top frame member and the spring I from flying oiI in case the tcp frame member is released from the side frame members, and in order to enable the mechanism to be reset after the pressure has been released, the release is provided with a toggle mechanism which will now be described.

Spaced toggle links 21, which may be formed as a single stamping having an integral joining and spacing portion 28, are pivotally secured at one end of each upon a pivot pin 29 suitably secured in the reset arm 26. The other ends of links 21 are pvoted upon a pivot pin 3| secured in the side frame member 2. The side frame member has a transverse notch or recess 32 adapted to receive the pivot pin 29 when the reset arm 26 lies in adjacent or abutting relation to the side frame member.

As will be noted in Figs. 3 and 4, when the parts are in normal position with the rolls under pressure exerted by the spring I5, and with the reset arm adjacent to the frame 2, a line joining the centers of the pivots 25 and 29 lies to the right of or toward the wringer rolls from the axis or center of the pivot 3|. Consequently, the arrangement constitutes an overthrow toggle, so that the force of the spring I5 and itsA reaction tends to hold the pivot 29 Within the recess 32 and the lower portion of the reset arm 26 against the lower side of the side frame member 2. So long as the parts remain in this position with the portions I8 at the opposite end of the top frame engaged beneath the lug or lugs I1, the rolls will remain under pressure determined by the tension on the spring I5. However, if the pivot 29 is moved to the left or away from the rolls to a position where its center lies beyond a dead center position with respect to the center of the pivots 25 and 3|, the reaction of the spring I5 will throw the reset arm 26 outward and up ward to or above a position such as that; illustrated in full lines in Fig. 4.

The mechanism for breaking the toggle, that is for moving the pivot pin 29 to a position outward beyond a dead center position with respect to a line of centers between the pivots 25 and 3|, comprises a lever, or the like, 33, pivoted on a pivot 34 secured between spaced lugs 35 which 4may be struck from the lower end of side frame member 2 and which, if struck from frame member 2, leave openings through which lever 33 extends. At its outer end the lever 33 is forked to provide projections or lugs 36, normally arranged when the lever is in the position shown in Fig. .3, barely to contact with the inner face of the reset arm 26. At its inner end the lever 33 is provided with'aI square or other shaped .aperture 31 which is adapted loosely to receive the square end 38 of a release bar 39 which extends upwardly and across the front of thewringer. As will be noted from Figs. 2 and 7, there are two levers 33 substantially identical with one another, and two release bars 39, one extending across the front of the wringer rolls and the other across the rear of the wringer rolls. The safety release bars 39, of course, project through suitable apertures in the bottoms of the side frame members 2 and are held in position therein at one end of each by cotter keys, or the like, 4I, as will be noted in Fig. 7, and at the other end of each by appropriate means (not shown).

In operation, should an emergency arise during operation of the wringer rolls, as-when the person or the clothing of the operator becomes caught in the rolls, a blow or a push upon either safety release bar 39, or a pull upon either of the safety release bars, will rock one of the levers 33 about its pivot 34, which action will 4cause one of the projections 36 to push the reset arm 26 outwardly and away from the side frame member 2. The outward movement imparted to the reset arm 26 is suiiicient to carry the pivot 29 and the lower end of the link 21 outwardly of the notch 32 and away from theside frame member 2 to a position beyond a dead center position with respect to the axes of pivots 25 and 3 I, whereupon the resultant of the force of the reaction of the spring I5 will carry the reset arm 26 and link 21 upwardly toward and perhaps beyond the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 4. The outward movement of the resetarm 26, however, is constrained by the link 21, so that the parts may not fly away from their relative association, as might otherwise be the case. Upon release of the reset arm 26 from its normal position, the spring I5 will urge the top frame member I4 upwardly and all tension or pressure upon the rolls II and 9 `will be released. The action, upon release, is substantially instantaneous.

In resetting the pressure upon the rolls, the edges of portions I9 are reengaged (if they have been disengaged) beneath the lugs I1, and a tion, it will be understood and appreciated that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in wringers of diierent construction and that the reset and release mechanism may take other forms without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the vappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a clothes wringer, a pair of cooperative rolls, resilient means urging said rolls into cooperative engagement with one another, upper and lower -frames, releasable latch means connecting the frames on one end, toggle lever release and reset means connecting the opposite ends of the frames, and means to actuate release of said toggle lever including bell cranks attached to the lower frame and inverted U- shaped bars pivotally mounted on each side of the wrlnger and held outwardly by the roll resilient means for release movement in either drection.

2. In a clothes wringer, a pair of cooperative rolls, resilient means urging said rolls into cooperative engagement with one another, upper andvlower frames, releasable latch means connecting the frames on one end, toggle lever release and reset means connecting the opposite ends of the frames, inverted U-shaped safety release bars pivotally mounted on each side of the wringer, and dual contact bell cranks each coacting at plural points with the toggle lever and 

